Karen Lewis puts $40,000 of own money into mayoral bid

For weeks, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis has said she is seriously considering a run against Mayor Rahm Emanuel. On Monday Lewis offered what she said is proof: $40,000 of her own money.

Lewis reported that contribution to her political fund on Monday and said the money would go toward opening a campaign office and hiring staff. Lewis also said she hoped the money would serve another purpose --- to motivate others to contribute to her even though she’s yet to decide if she’ll challenge Emanuel.

“People should know I’m serious,” Lewis said when asked why she contributed the $40,000. “I’m hoping people will be much more comfortable about donating early without a declaration (for mayor), so that is important.”

The union leader’s decision to dig into her own pocket to help fund a potential campaign marked the latest tea leaf in Lewis’ very public contemplation of whether to challenge Emanuel, who has more than $8 million in his own campaign fund but has been saddled with low job approval ratings.

At her latest “Conversations with Karen” community event Monday night in the South Shore neighborhood, about 100 people turned out to hear Lewis answer questions on issues ranging from standardized testing and school closings to potholes and policing.

One person asked if Lewis’ $40,000 campaign check meant she was definitely going to run for mayor.

“It means I am seriously considering it, and it means that we have expenses associated with that,” Lewis replied. “So, yes, I did put in some of my own money, because I’m also getting ready to ask other people to put money in, because that’s going to make the real decision about whether I run. And if people don’t see that I’m serious about putting money in, then they won’t either.”

Then came the joke: “So, if you brought your checkbook tonight …”

Until Monday, Lewis only had reported receiving a single $1,000 contribution. In addition to her contribution, Lewis also reported receiving $2,000 from Jackson Potter, the staff coordinator for the teachers union.

Lewis has reported raising $43,000 to date. Emanuel last reported $8.3 million in his campaign fund.

Lewis has said she’d “never be able to compete” with Emanuel in raising campaign money, and often has criticized him as “Mayor 1 percent” because of the many business executives she has said help fill his campaign fund and influence his policies.

Asked Monday whether most working Chicagoans could relate to spending $40,000 on a political campaign, Lewis sought to draw a distinction.

“I saved it. It’s part of my retirement plan,” she said. “I guess it’s hard for people to understand that this is a way you make a commitment when you start working … I want people to understand that I am thinking about this seriously.”

A Chicago Tribune poll published last month showed Lewis leading Emanuel 43 percent to 39 percent, just outside the survey’s 3.5 percentage point error margin. The same poll found Emanuel leading 2nd Ward Ald. Robert Fioretti in a potential matchup 43 percent to 26 percent.

Fioretti has talked about running for mayor, and has scheduled a Saturday campaign event where staff said he’s expected to make an “important announcement.”